Roosting is taking place in buildings across the nation, and it’s driving homeowners batty.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says that fall is the perfect time to evict bats from your home.
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From Aug. 15 to April 15, it is legal for home and property owners to use exclusion devices. The devices allow bats to exit a structure, but not reenter them, which makes them the most appropriate and ethical method of keeping bats out.
Exclusion devices must be left up for a minimum of four nights and must be conducted when the overnight temperature is forecasted to be 50ºF or above.
After April 15, it is illegal to block bats from their roosts since it’s bat maternity season and the addition of these devices could leave flightless pups trapped in their roost without their mother.
It is also illegal in the state of Florida to harm or kill any of the 13 species of bats, hence the exclusion guidelines.
For those wanting to keep bats around, just not in your home, bat houses can be a great addition to your yard.
Not only will these structures reduce your chance of encountering bats, but by providing them with this safe home you will be benefiting your property.
A single bat can eat hundreds of insects, including mosquitoes and other agricultural pests each night.
By having a bat for a neighbor, you can swoop on your chance to improve your yard overnight. To be a bat champion, click on the “How to Help Bats page” for more details.